A giant puppet of a young Syrian refugee will "walk" across Europe to draw attention to the plight of migrants. Little Amal's journey began on July 27 when she embarked on the 8,000km journey from the Syria-Turkey border to the UK in search of her mother and a better life, the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/11/puppet-of-refugee-girl-to-walk-across-europe-along-12-week-arts-festival-trail">Guardian</a> reports. As the 11-foot four-inch puppet goes on her epic 12-week quest, she will be met with art installations, performances, and events across Europe. Amal's creators explained on The Walk's <a href="https://www.walkwithamal.org/">website</a> that they made the puppet so large because they wanted to send the message that the world has to rise up to meet the needs of refugees. The performances for Amal began on July 27 in Gaziantep, Turkey, where lanterns were placed to help guide her path as she made her way to a special concert at Gaziantep Castle. <img class="wp-image-1263123523 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/08/The-Walk-1.jpg" alt="Little Amal's journey." width="761" height="546" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: Supplied/The Walk With Amal]] Amir Nizar Zuabi, the artistic director of the Good Chance theatre company, said that the puppet was created to celebrate the "potential of refugees", as per the <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/may/11/puppet-of-refugee-girl-to-walk-across-europe-along-12-week-arts-festival-trail">Guardian</a>. "The Walk is there to celebrate the potential of refugees, children, grownups. It is not a march of misery, it is a march of pride and we hope this corridor of friendship will last much longer than the actual 12-week journey. It will become a network of collaborations in the future." Designed by Handspring, the creator of the War Horse puppets, Amal will be operated on her journey by four teams of three puppeteers. One of these puppeteers will sit inside Amal while the other two operate her arms. <a href="https://www.walkwithamal.org/events/">More than 80 free events</a> will be taking place on Amal's journey through Europe, the Guardian reports, and they will utilize the talents of around 250 partner organizations and artists. <img class="wp-image-1263123533 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/08/The-Walk-2.jpg" alt="Little Amal in Turkey." width="761" height="546" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: Supplied/The Walk With Amal]] The creators of the project said that they wanted Amal to be welcomed into each new place by performances, but while her journey is, at its heart, a celebration of refugees, it also doesn't shy away from the hardships they face. When Amal arrives in <a href="https://www.walkwithamal.org/events/amals-tantrum/">Naples on September 9</a>, she has grown tired of her walk and throws a tantrum, which will be used to give energy to hundreds of dancers and musicians who will perform. Amal's journey will also acknowledge past conflicts too, and she will share <a href="https://www.walkwithamal.org/events/my-first-apple-strudel/">her stories of war over an apple pie on October 2</a> with elderly people in Cologne who grew up after World War Two. Meanwhile, when Amal arrives in <a href="https://www.walkwithamal.org/events/sheltered-worlds/">Paris on October 13</a>, she will be given the chance to explore a refugee camp installation outside the Institut du Monde Arabe. There, shadow art and puppets will be used to create an immersive experience as the little girl looks for signs of her home. <img class="wp-image-1263123535 size-full" src="https://img.vt.co/2021/08/The-Walk-3.jpg" alt="Little Amal in Greece." width="761" height="546" />[[imagecaption|| Credit: Supplied/The Walk With Amal]] The young refugee girl will also celebrate her birthday in <a href="https://www.walkwithamal.org/events/farewell-to-london/">London on October 24</a>, where Amal will arrive at the Roundhouse in Camden for a birthday party and concert in her honor. The last leg of Amal's journey will see her travel through Oxford, Sheffield, Coventry, and Birmingham, with installations such as one which sees Amal meet Lewis Carrol's Alice in Wonderland in <a href="https://www.walkwithamal.org/events/amal-meets-alice/">Oxford on October 26</a>. Amal's journey will finally come to an end in Manchester, and on arrival, she will discover that is where her mother has settled. John McGrath, the artistic director of Manchester's international festival, said that he was proud of the city's reputation for welcoming refugees like Amal, as per the Guardian. "We're really proud to be celebrating that history and we're just so honored to be part of this extraordinary artistic project." You can find out more about Amal's journey and support The Walk <a href="https://www.walkwithamal.org/">here</a>. <h6>Featured image credit: Supplied/The Walk With Amal</h6>

A giant puppet of a young girl is being walked across Europe to highlight the struggles and potential of refugees

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